PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S: which next-generation console suits us best
PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S , the next generation consoles, are here. A couple of months after his departure, Sony and Microsoft have cleared up the biggest unknowns and now we have the prices , we have the dates , we know their key games and, we are not going to deny it, we also have several doubts . Starting, of course, with the most essential of all: which console is the best for me?
We have compared what each machine contributes technically and also the sensations that its controls will transmit to us . Now the time has come to go one step further: put the best of each new console and see how both fit into our profile as a player . Keeping in mind, as it should be, their game proposals, how they will address the previous legacy and the services that will be offered.
Four console models that are actually three alternatives. Although the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S will share a game catalog, their differences go beyond their design . And this is considered in its price. On the other hand, what really sets the difference between the PS5 and its 100% digital alternative is that the former has a disc reader: the two Sony systems will offer the same quality in games.
Sony and Microsoft have put their cards on the table and we have proposed to put them together with one purpose: that you choose the one that best suits your tastes, your preferences and, of course, your pocket.
The Next Gen consoles face to face
There are two starting points when evaluating consoles. The first is its design. On the one hand, and starting in alphabetical order, Sony breaks with the industrial sobriety of the PS4 models and opts for curved lines and white to wrap its new PlayStation systems.
In terms of size, the two PS5 consoles are really big. If we stand them up, they are almost four inches taller than the Xbox Series X; and when the putting them together there is a little more than a centimeter of difference in width between the normal model and the Digital Edition. The reason for the latter, basically, is the absence of the most economical model disc player.
- PS5: 10.4 x 26 x 39 cm.
- PS5 Digital Edition: 9.2 x 26 x 39 cm.
It is worth noting the small details of the outer white casings, in which the brand's logos can be seen, as well as its two lines of bluish LEDs in the front area.
Microsoft is strongly committed to functionality in its two console models, but knows how to give each new Xbox its own identity: arranged vertically, the Xbox Series X is, according to Microsoft itself, a monolith of black color and simple shapes with three airflow channels , so Microsoft promises that your console will neither heat up nor make noise
On the other hand, the Xbox Series S seeks contrast through the white color and, despite being much more compact, it is the smallest Xbox console ever designed , it has extra ventilation through a generous extra black grille. that does not go unnoticed.
Placed facing each other, you can see the difference in size between the two: the Xbox Series S is approximately 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X.
Xbox Series X: 15.1cm x 15.1cm x 30.1cm
Xbox Series S: 6.5cm x 15.1cm x 27.5cm
It is worth noting that the Xbox Series X model is the only Microsoft console that offers a disc player. For its part, it is worth noting that both consoles are designed to be placed vertically and horizontally .
With those aspects ahead, it's time to see what the consoles offer inside through their specifications.
Xbox Series X is the console with more muscle of all with its 12 TFLOPS. Now, despite its 4 TFLOPS, the Xbox Series S will be able to move the same catalog of games. Being an alternative that earns extra points if our television does not reach high resolutions.
Regarding the PlayStation 5 models (both 10.28 TFLOPS), it is worth highlighting their greater effective input / output transfer compared to the Xbox models, although it will be the developers themselves who must take this into account so that it really makes a difference in the gaming experience.
Finally, all consoles have an expandable storage system.
- In the case of Xbox, these are expansion cards that will be added to the storage of Xbox Series X (1TB PCIe Gen4 NVME SSD) and Xbox Series S (512GB PCIe Gen4 NVME SSD)
- While PS5 will bet on NVMe SSD cards to expand its 825 GB storage through a custom SSD.
Mind you, data transfer and storage is fine. And make the games look crystal clear even better. But how and what are we going to play?
PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition: the difference is in the feeling when playing
In many respects, one of the keys to the next PlayStation is not in the system itself, but in its controller: the DualSense is much more than a substitute for the DualShock, but a way to extend what happens on screen to the player through its haptic feedback by dual actuators , to which must be added a jump in the quality of the sensitivity and response of the triggers.
In this regard, and as a declaration of intent, all PS5 consoles will include factory installed the Astro's Playroom game , a complete experience and at the same time an ambassador of the capabilities and sensors of the DualSense.
The bad news, on the other hand, is that we will not be able to play the games of the new PlayStation with the DualShock 4, although we can continue to use them with PS4 games that are backward compatible.
Without deviating from the peripherals, one of the elements to take into account of PS5 is that it is still the door to virtual reality on consoles : everything related to PS VR, (including the PS Move, PlayStation VR Aim Controller and the PlayStation Camera) will be compatible with PS5, as long as the games that require them, of course.
As for the backward compatibility options, from Sony we anticipate that we will be able to enjoy 99% of the PS4 game catalog in the two PS5 models, although details remain to be specified in this regard. On the other hand, the arrival of games from PS3, PS3 and the original PlayStation to the new PlayStation is ruled out unless, logically, they have been published in some way on PS4.
For example, through the PS Now service whose arrival is officially confirmed for both models.
An essential factor when choosing a console is the games , and although in relation to their quality, Sony studios have signed several of the best works of the current generation in terms of exclusivity, we must also take into account that the price Recommended PS5 games released under the PlayStation Studios label will be € 79.99.
In other words: if we accompany the purchase of the console with two games on launch day, for example, we will have to add about 160 euros to the total.
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| The PS5 Digital Edition preserves the PS5 design (except for the reader) and shares all its characteristics. |
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| The PS5 disc player is really hidden by putting the console vertically |
On the other hand, when opting for PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition it is worth studying the use that we will give the disc reader : those 100 euros of difference between both models can be amortized so much with the games of the past generation that we have physically as when it comes to sharing or acquiring second-hand titles.
However, Sony will not let us look at its new console with the TV turned off in case we decide to wait to release the game: the PS Plus paid subscription will integrate the PlayStation Plus Collection , a very powerful selection of PS4 greatest hits that we can enjoy on PS5 from day one.
Pros of PS5 vs. Xbox
- The DualSense promises to offer a new layer of interactivity in games
- The virtual reality catalog and PS VR compatibility
- The great PlayStation exclusives of the last generation and those announced for PS5
- Backward compatibility with 99% of the PS4 catalog
- The inclusion of the PlayStation Plus Collection on PS Plus (subscription required) as a claim.
Cons of PS5 vs Xbox
- The increase in the price of PlayStation Studios games makes the acquisition of the console a little more expensive.
- Games published by PlayStation Studios cannot also be played from PC at no additional cost.
- No cloud gaming service is offered to play from mobile
- It will not be backward compatible with PSX, PS2 and PS3 titles, although it is possible to play its classics from PS Now.
Availability and price of the two Playstation 5 models
PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will be available from November 12, 2020 in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea and from November 19, 2020 in the rest of the world, including Spain.
The official price of PlayStation 5 is 499 euros . The console comes with a DualSense and can now be reserved.
PS5 on Amazon for 499.99 euros
PS5 in MediaMarkt for 499 euros
PS5 in Game for 499.99 euros
PS5 at Fnac for 499.99 euros
PS5 on XtraLife for 499.99 euros
PS5 in El Corte Inglés for 499.90 euros
The official price of PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (without disc reader) is 399 euros . The console is also accompanied by a DualSense and can now be reserved.
PS5 Digital Edition on Amazon for 399.99 euros
PS5 Digital Edition in MediaMarkt for 399.99 euros
PS5 Digital Edition in Game for 399.99 euros
PS5 Digital Edition at Fnac for 399.99 euros
PS5 Digital Edition on XtraLife for 399.99 euros
PS5 Digital Edition in El Corte Inglés for 399.99 euros
In addition, Sony will accompany the launch of the two PS5 models with a new batch of accessories.
Pulse 3D wireless headphones - valued at 99.99 euros
HD camera - valued at 59.99 euros
Remote control - valued at 29.99 euros
Charging station for two DualSense - valued at 29.99 euros
Xbox Series X / Xbox Series S: Microsoft's master plan comes in two colors
Microsoft has assembled Xbox Series X to be the most powerful console ever made , and it promises to be a colossus in terms of resolution and performance. However, it has not put all the eggs in the same basket , and it has done well: the price of Xbox Series S demolishes any excuse to take the generational jump . But the best thing is that both have already started to fill up with games
Xbox's transgenerational commitment and its backward compatibility , added to the increasingly powerful Game Pass, will not only allow us to play literally thousands of games from day one, including the entire EA Play catalog (formerly known as EA Access) but also We can also continue our games already started from console and PC right where we left them thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere .
If you start playing Gears 5 on PC or mobile today, you will keep everything you have achieved as soon as you turn on your new console. As simple as it sounds.
And the thing does not end there: one of the keys to the success of this double launch is Smart Delivery, so that all the titles within this initiative will not only be accommodated to take full advantage of the capabilities of each console (including the family of systems Xbox One) but we will always receive the best available version of each game at no additional cost , regardless of the device on which we are playing.
And why do we mean any device? Because, in essence, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S content is also played on mobiles through xCloud, Microsoft's cloud gaming service. A service that, by the way, is also included in the Game Pass service. What's more, you can now get official peripherals fully licensed by Xbox to get the most out of the service on Android.
With that ahead, when deciding which of the two Xbox models to bet on, the difference in price not only means a change in the design and the absence of the disc reader:
Xbox Series X offers 12 teraflops of processing power powered by AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA technology. In addition, its DirectX ray tracing offers precise and realistic lighting, shadows and reflections to create dynamic and vivid worlds. Achieving true 4K, 8K HDR and, thanks to the Xbox Velocity Architecture, up to 120 FPS.
Xbox Series S, meanwhile, has 4 teraflops of processing power, and although it does not match the resolution of Xbox Series X (or PS5) it maintains the Xbox Velocity Architecture, a custom SSD that provides up to 120 FPS in them. games than other consoles.
All in all, both consoles will receive a 1TB Seagate expansion card that easily plugs in via a dedicated expansion port, providing extra game storage for the console without sacrificing performance.
It should be borne in mind that Microsoft has brutally reinforced the Xbox studios with such powerful signings as Obsidian, Ninja Theory or Double Fine ; not to mention his own Dream team known as The Initiative; so we can expect great things from Xbox Game Studios in the short and medium term. And best of all, all games published by Microsoft will be available at launch to Game Pass subscribers.
It can be said that the new generation has already begun for Microsoft. Even before the arrival of their own consoles. However, his previous legacy lives on. Not only will we be able to play the Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Original Xbox classics without having to pay a second time , but we will also be able to use all the Xbox One peripherals on the new consoles.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are compatible with Xbox One gaming accessories, plus it offers a faster response time than ever. Including the Xbox Adaptive Controller , the control system for gamers with mobility problems. And that adds extra points.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are compatible with Xbox One gaming accessories, plus it offers a faster response time than ever. Including the Xbox Adaptive Controller , the control system for gamers with mobility problems. And that adds extra points.
However, Microsoft has taken the opportunity to update the Xbox controller, adding a share button, improving its crosshead, the triggers and upper buttons (now textured) and, at the same time, maintaining everything that achieves its predominant position as a controller to play on PC, including its asymmetric sticks.
That said, we have:
Pros of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S vs. PS5
- Unbeatable technology in the case of Xbox Series X and an irresistible price with Xbox Series S
- A total commitment to the backward compatibility of games and peripherals, including the Xbox Adaptive Controller, rewarding the loyalty of Xbox players
- A Game Pass (purchased separately) with hundreds of games that also includes all Xbox Game Studios releases from launch day and the EA Play catalog without having to pay an additional cent.
- The Smart Delivery system guarantees us that, whatever the console, we will always have the best version of the game once we have purchased it.
- The extension of the Xbox experience to PCs and mobiles through initiatives such as Xbox Play Anywhere and xCloud.
Cons of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S vs. PS5
- The additional Game Pass subscription is not mandatory, but it greatly increases the value of the consoles and the experience.
- The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S controller is really continuous compared to the DualSense.
- Neither the Xbox Series X nor the Xbox Series S offer a virtual reality gaming alternative. At least launch.
- Despite the enormous momentum from Xbox Game Studios, the weight of Third Party games continues to be completely decisive on Xbox.
- Unlike the PlayStation exclusives, all of the great Microsoft titles for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S can also be played on PC through Game Pass.
Availability and price
The official price of Xbox Series X is 499 euros. The console comes with a new Xbox controller and its pre-orders will open on September 22.
The official price of Xbox Series S is 299 euros. The console comes with a new Xbox controller and its pre-orders will open on September 22.
As a curiosity, Microsoft will offer in more than a dozen countries the Xbox All Access alternative , an initiative to release Xbox One X or Xbox One S, both with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, from 24.99 euros per month for 24 months and without interest. Unfortunately, Spain is not part of this initiative.
In addition, and as we mentioned, Microsoft consoles have the possibility of expanding their storage comfortably and without affecting gaming performance with the Seagate storage expansion card, whose launch is scheduled for later this year without a price to be specified.
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